Nation

37,000 is a big number, it's easier said than done, say cabbies

PETALING JAYA: The Government’s plan to keep an eye on Malaysia’s cabbies may be easier said than done.

Malaysian Taxi, Limousine and Rental Car Operators and Drivers Association (Petekma) vice-president Mohd Shahril Abdul Aziz said it would be nearly impossible to keep track of every single driver in the Klang Valley.

He said a very large system and several people were needed to monitor 37,000 taxis and identify which one was not using the meter or which one was not where he should be.

Mohd Shahril also dismissed Land Public Transport Commission’s (SPAD) idea of redistributing taxis to areas where there were none, saying cabbies would only go to where the customers were.

He added that if SPAD wanted to really carry out enforcement in the taxi industry, it should push for more officers on the streets and replace errant drivers with new ones.

“I’m afraid this may become a white elephant project, a waste of the people’s money. A smartphone app would be better,” he said.

Federal Territory and Selangor Taxi Operators Association president Datuk Aslah Abdullah however supported the idea, although he questioned how SPAD would carry out the enforcement.

“I think it’s good, but how can you monitor taxi drivers? What are you going to do when they pull out the wires (for the GPS units)?” he said.

He argued that the Commercial Licensing Vehicle Board (CVLB), which previously handled taxis before SPAD, had been ineffective.

A retired cabbie, who wanted to be known as YS Chan, 63, was however, supportive of SPAD’s idea.

Chan, who had 10 years’ experience, said he had never met a single enforcement officer while on his rounds.

“Technology will be able to nab the errant taxi drivers,” he said.

Chan claimed that government agencies such as the Road Transport Department (JPJ) had just passed the buck of enforcement to the CVLB, which he said did not have enough enforcement officers.